OSCE Special Representative supports Transdniestria negotiations, confidence-building measures

CHISINAU, 27 February 2009 - The Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for Protracted Conflicts, Ambassador Charalampos Christopoulos, expressed support today for the Transdniestrian settlement process in the 5+2 format and the work of joint expert groups on confidence-building measures. 

"Giving new impetus to the Transdniestrian settlement process is one of the priorities of the Greek OSCE Chairmanship," Christopoulos told journalists in Chisinau.

The envoy spent four days in Moldova to look for ways and opportunities to restart the settlement process in the 5+2 format and to support the work of the Joint Expert Groups on Confidence Building Measures. The working groups strive to build trust among the sides and improve the lives of ordinary people on both banks of the Dniestr/Nistru River.

In Chisinau, Christopoulos met Acting Foreign Minister Valeriu Ostalep, the Acting Minister for Reintegration, Ion Stavila, the Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Policy, Grigore Petrenco and Central Electoral Commission Chair Eugene Stirbu as well as representatives of political parties and civil society.

In Tiraspol, he met Transnistrian leader Igor Smirnov and Chief Negotiator Vladimir Yastrebchak.

Christopoulos described the meetings as "interesting and constructive".

"Together with the OSCE Mission here on the ground, the Greek Chairmanship will work with both sides towards reaching a genuine settlement. This settlement should be negotiated freely and peacefully; it should confirm Moldova's sovereignty and territorial integrity and also earn the support of the Transdniestrians by guaranteeing them real autonomy that is properly respected, with real rights," he said.

Christopoulos noted that the Greek OSCE Chairmanship is paying close attention to Moldova's 2009 Parliamentary Elections.